Harp seals seen near Quincy’s shores

Thursday

Feb 24, 2011 at 12:01 AMFeb 24, 2011 at 2:14 AM

Harp seals, native to Canada, have once again started making their annual trek to haul up and relax on beaches and ice packs along the South Shore. At least two of the creatures, named for the harp-shaped black mark on their backs, were seen resting on ice packs close to Quincy’s shores on Wednesday.

Brian Badzmierowski

They’re cute, but getting too close to them is a federal crime.

And they’re not in trouble – they just want to chill out.

Harp seals, native to Canada, have once again started making their annual trek to haul up and relax on beaches and ice packs along the South Shore.

At least two of the creatures, named for the harp-shaped black mark on their backs, were seen resting on ice packs close to Quincy’s shores on Wednesday.

Curious onlookers snapped pictures and marveled at the seals as they rolled around on the ice trying to get comfortable and ate snow to stay hydrated.

Patti Williams got a call from her husband at about 11 a.m. to look out the back porch of their Manet Avenue home, and she saw a seal resting just outside the sea wall.

“I’ve never seen one this close,” she said.

Harp seals and hooded seals travel 300 miles from Canada to feed along the South Shore in winter. This time of year, harp seals are commonly spotted sunning themselves on the beach for days at a time.

New England Aquarium biologist Adam Kennedy was on scene to make sure the seal wasn’t in danger.

He said the seal was fat and healthy, and just wanted to get some rest.

“People get worried, but he’s fine,” he said.

A number of harp seals have been spotted in recent weeks around the South Shore.

Over Presidents Day weekend, one of them spent 48 hours resting on an ice pack in North Weymouth, Tony LaCasse, the aquarium’s media director said in a press release.

They can spend up to three days resting on an ice pack, which leads some people to believe they are in need when they’re just trying to relax.

Harp seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which mandates that people stay at least 150 feet away.

Kennedy stressed that although the law says 150 feet, if the animal is reacting to a person’s presence, the person is too close.

Harp seals are natives of Canadian waters, and they will likely follow food back up north sometime before late spring, Kennedy said.

Brian Badzmierowski may be reached at bbadzmierowski @ledger.com.

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